UK storm forecast as maps show exact time wall of rain to smash apart 35C heat bomb

Storm clouds could soon bring a downpour to large parts of the country amid period of scorchingly hot weather, new maps suggest. Britain is currently basking in baking temperatures, with the potential for the mercury to rise as high as 35C on Tuesday, according to forecaster Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lenhert.

However, forecast data collected by WXCHARTS.COM suggests for many it won't be accompanied by clear skies, with multiple areas seeing downpours on Monday and later in the week. Maps showing maximum precipitation Monday, June 30, indicate much of Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland could be seeing rainfall at exactly 4pm, with as much as 7.5 mm/hr in northern areas of NI.

Parts of England's northwest and Wales could also see some precipitation around this time, with rainfall ranging between 0.2 and 0.8mm/hr, the maps suggest.

By 7pm the downpour looks set to cover much of Scotland, hitting particularly hard in northern and western areas. This includes large stretches of the Highlands and Argyle and Bute, with precipitation potentially hitting 10mm/hr.

Rain looks set to continue in Northern Ireland, as well as in pockets of northern England.

Areas in the north east around Newcastle look set for the heaviest rain in England, with as much as 4mm/hr, the maps indicate.

There could also be pockets of rain continuing in the north west, and areas south of Birmingham.

At 10pm rain looks set to continue lashing Scotland with areas like Inverness and Wick getting potentially seeing upwards of 4mm/hr, though it looks to be easing off in NI at this time.Parts of England including East Anglia, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the north East, could also be getting rained on at this time, with the highest precipitation in the East Midlands, 1.5mm/hr.Rain conditions could then return on Wednesday, with rainclouds looming over large pockets of Scotland including Aberdeen and Edinburgh, much of Northern Ireland including Belfast, and over a wide area in England.Several areas look set for a rainfall including Newcastle, Manchester, London, with as much as 3mm/hr in coastal areas of Yorkshire and the Humber.

The Met Office's forecast for Monday is of sunny and hot conditions for England and Wales "with a few thunderstorms possible in the afternoon, particularly in northern England".

"Fresher in the northwest with some heavy rain moving in," it adds.

Its three to five day forecast covering Tuesday to Thursday suggests it will be "hot again in the southeast on Tuesday, but turning fresher from the west".

"Temperatures closer to average on Wednesday and Thursday," it continues, adding: "Heavy rain possible in the south on Thursday."

Meanwhile, The Met Office forecast for today was of cloud in the south "gradually lifting and clearing" in the morning, followed "very warm" conditions with "plenty of sunny spells".

"Fresher in the north with brisk winds and some sunshine. Showery rain at times across Northern Ireland and western Scotland."

Tonight, it's expected to be cloudy across Northern Ireland and Scotland "with outbreaks of drizzle at times", the national weather agency says. "Dry elsewhere with clear skies and staying rather warm through the night."

You can find the latest Met Office forecasts and guidance on their website.